Olay Vitamin C + Peptide 24 Brightening Serum for combination skin
Ascorbic Acid
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Niacinamide
Lactic Acid
Glycerin
High
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
A great choice for combination skin; a few serums fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with combination skin: an oily T-zone, enlarged pores, and dry cheeks. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Highly suitable for your combination skin, this serum effectively addresses oily shine with niacinamide for oil regulation and lactic acid for mild exfoliation, balancing both oily and dry areas.
- The formulation offers excellent brightening and smoothing texture due to 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid and Lactic Acid, promoting even skin tone and refined surface.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your combination skin due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing components like Niacinamide and Panthenol.
How to apply
- Use your serum as part of your PM routine. Start using it 3 times a week and move to daily use if your skin likes it.
- Apply the serum after cleansing and toner, and right before your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and wait a minute ⏳for it to soak in.
- Apply the serum on clean and dry skin since your skin is not sensitive.
- Always do a patch test before using the serum for the first time, and avoid the eye area .
People Say
★4.5Overall rating based on 1.2k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users with dull, dry, or uneven skin frequently praise this serum for its ability to visibly brighten the complexion and smooth skin texture. Many report hydrated and glowing skin within weeks, though results for fading deep dark spots and hyperpigmentation are mixed and often require consistent long-term use.
Highlights
Lightweight & non-greasy Mostly Mentioned
- “absorbs quickly”
- “no sticky residue”
- “works under makeup”
- “silky texture”
Brightens complexion Often Mentioned
- “skin looks brighter”
- “healthy glow”
- “radiant look”
- “less dullness”
Pleasant scent Often Mentioned
- “smells like citrus”
- “refreshing scent”
- “light orange smell”
- “yummy fragrance”
Gentle formula Sometimes Noted
- “no irritation”
- “good for sensitive skin”
- “didn't break me out”
- “gentle vitamin C”
Hydrating Sometimes Noted
- “skin feels soft”
- “moisturizing”
- “plumps fine lines”
- “dewy finish”
Strong fragrance Sometimes Noted
- “perfume is strong”
- “smells like hand soap”
- “scent lingers”
- “irritating fragrance”
Not cruelty-free Rarely Noted
- “tests on animals”
- “not cruelty-free”
- “wish it was vegan”
Packaging/value Rarely Noted
- “bottle runs out fast”
- “pump issues”
- “expensive for size”
- “hard to see amount left”
Slow results Rarely Noted
- “no difference yet”
- “dark spots didn't fade”
- “took months to work”
- “average results”
Sticky texture Rarely Noted
- “leaves sticky film”
- “tacky finish”
- “feels heavy”
- “slightly gooey”
Sources: lovi.care, walmart.com, ulta.com, olay.com, skinsort.com, youtube.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Olay Vitamin C + Peptide 24 Brightening Serum a great fit for combination skin?
Olay Vitamin C + Peptide 24 Brightening Serum is a great fit because niacinamide and lactic acid control oily shine while keeping dry areas balanced. It also helps brighten the skin and smooth its texture safely without causing irritation.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for combination skin?
This serum is a great fit for your combination skin because niacinamide manages oily shine while lactic acid gently exfoliates dry areas. Additionally, 3-O-ethyl ascorbic acid brightens the skin and smooths its texture, and panthenol helps keep the formula very safe and soothing.
What does Vitamin C do for combination skin?
Vitamin C helps brighten dull areas and smooth out uneven texture on combination skin while protecting against daily environmental stress. It may also help keep pores clear and skin firm by supporting collagen production, though drier spots may need an added moisturizer to stay comfortable.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023
What does Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4 do for combination skin?
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4 helps smooth fine lines and wrinkles on combination skin by boosting collagen production. It is unlikely to cause irritation and may improve skin texture with regular use.
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This treatment serum goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing, which keeps things simple and safe around sun exposure. It helps balance oily and dry areas while brightening the surface without causing irritation.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum with retinol by applying this treatment first and following with your retinol later, or by using this one in the morning and retinol at night to keep your skin calm and smooth.
How often should I use this serum?
This serum fits well in your evening routine once a week to start, and you may carefully use it more often if your skin tolerates it well and shows good results. It is unlikely to irritate your combination skin thanks to soothing ingredients and the absence of harsh components.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This serum is unlikely to clog pores, cause breakouts, or lead to purging on combination skin. It features soothing components like niacinamide and panthenol that help keep the skin calm and balanced without irritation.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
A topical serum containing vitamin C, vitamin E, and raspberry leaf cell culture extract improved skin color, elasticity, radiance, smoothness, scaliness, and wrinkles compared to the untreated contralateral side in fifty female volunteers.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020A multi-component dissolving microneedle patch loaded with glabridin, 3-O-ethyl-L-ascorbic acid, and tranexamic acid effectively reduced chloasma and age spots while demonstrating safety in clinical evaluation, alongside significant antioxidant, anti-tyrosinase, and melanin-reduction effects in vitro and in vivo.
Polymers, 2023Dissolving microneedles loaded with 3-O-ethyl ascorbic acid and acetyl hexapeptide-8 achieved higher cumulative transdermal delivery than aqueous solutions and significantly reduced photoaging signs while restoring oxidative balance in a UV/D-galactose-induced mouse model.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2026A panthenol-enriched mask significantly decreased erythema and hyperpigmentation, increased sebum and stratum corneum moisture, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to a saline dressing in 60 subjects undergoing facial laser treatment.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Topical dexpanthenol acts as a moisturizer, improves stratum corneum hydration, accelerates wound healing and epidermal regeneration, reduces erythema, and improves symptoms of skin irritation compared to vehicle or no pretreatment.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002Topical application of 5% vitamin C cream significantly improved global clinical scores, increased skin microrelief density, and induced elastic tissue repair in photoaged skin compared to excipient control in healthy female volunteers.
Experimental Dermatology, 2003Ascorbic acid 2-glucoside gel significantly reduced gingival melanin pigmentation after 4 weeks compared to placebo in 73 subjects with symmetric pigmentation.
Journal of Periodontology, 2009Topical application of VC-IP cream twice daily for 8 weeks reduces periorbital wrinkles in female subjects compared to a placebo cream.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022Topical post-laser application of human adipocyte-derived mesenchymal stem cell media combined with niacinamide significantly improved wrinkle index, melanin index, patient satisfaction, and investigator esthetic improvement scores compared to vehicle cream in patients with aging skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Topical nicotinamide prevented solar-simulated UV-induced immunosuppression in healthy volunteers, and men experienced immunosuppression at solar-simulated UV doses three times lower than those required for women.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2008Topical 5% niacinamide applied twice daily for 12 weeks reduced fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmented spots, red blotchiness, and skin sallowness, and improved skin elasticity compared to vehicle control in 50 female white subjects with facial photoaging.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2005Application of a cream containing lactic acid 12% and pramoxine HCl 1% significantly improved skin dryness, hydration, and itch compared with a nontreated control in 24 women with a history of dry itchy skin.
Cutis, 2004Topical 12% ammonium lactate produced a significant sparing of epidermal and dermal atrophy induced by clobetasol propionate in human volunteers, without influencing the corticosteroid's bioavailability or antiinflammatory properties.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 1992A lactic acid/ceramide lotion significantly improved skin moisturization and desquamation compared to no treatment in women with dry, rough skin on the anterior shins.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2020A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Niacinamide, Lactic Acid, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Panthenol, Trehalose, Peg-11 Methyl Ether Dimethicone, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Benzoate
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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